Description of Request: I have secured $400,000 for the City of Doral Street Improvements. This funding will be used for the resurfacing of two current streets and the construction of six new streets within the City of Doral. It is the City of Doral's intention to provide its residents and visitors with the safest and most convenient transportation within its limits. The completion of these small sections of roadway would complete the City's grid pattern and provide additional options for increasing traffic to avoid already congested intersections. This project will help to alleviate traffic congestion and improve driver and pedestrian safety. Additionally, this project is estimated to create over 300 jobs in the area.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: Buses & and Bus Facilities

Name of Requesting Entity: City of Doral

Address of Requesting Entity: 8300 NW 53rd Street, Suite 100, Doral,

Description of Request: I have secured $350,000 for the City of Doral Transit Circular. This funding will be used for further implementation and expansion of its Transit Circulator Program. The City of Doral is a municipality incorporated in 2003 which is located in west-central Miami-Dade County, directly west of the Miami-Dade International Airport (MIA). Approximately 40,000 people live in Doral and over 100,000 more travel to and through the City each day for employment and business activities. Due to its proximity to the urban core of Miami-Dade and major transportation facilities, as well as the rapid development of its component communities, Doral contends with a unique array of transportation concerns that require immediate and significant attention. The City of Doral launched the Transit Circulator Program in early 2008. The goals were to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollutant emissions by removing vehicles from the roadways. Additionally, the Doral Transit Circulator serves residents who are outside of the routes operated by Miami-Dade County's transit system (North of 41 Street and west of 97 Avenue). Since its introduction, the Transit Circulator Program has been extremely successful. Its usage and demand are far greater than were originally expected. The City of Doral is now looking to expand the routes of the Circulator and provide greater services to the residents of Doral via the purchasing of two new trolleys. This will further the City's goal of bringing convenient, safe, and environmentally-friendly transportation to its residents. The federally-funded portion of the project is estimated to create four new jobs within the City of Doral. The City of Doral embarked upon this program to bring public transportation to the City for a number of reasons. The most socially-conscious of these reasons are to reduce traffic congestion and reduce pollutant emissions. The City also wants to make sure that there are alternatives for transportation available to residents, since the County Transit system does not service much of Doral--the area north of 41st Street and west of 97th Avenue.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: TCSP

Name of Requesting Entity: Collier County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 3301 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112

Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 for the Interstate 75/Everglades Blvd. Interchange. This funding will be used or the design of a proposed interchange at or around Interstate 75 and Everglades Boulevard. Much of Collier County's current growth is occurring in an area known as Golden Gate Estates, one of the largest platted subdivisions of its kind in the world. This area is roughly the size of Washington, D.C. and is adjacent to the Big Cypress development which is anticipated to add another 23,000 dwelling units to the area. The only east-west routes between the eastern Estates and Naples area activity/employment centers are Golden Gate Boulevard and Immokalee Road and while the western portion of the Estates and Golden Gate City proper have access to interchanges at Immokalee Road, Pine Ridge Road, State Road 951 (Collier Boulevard) and Golden Gate Parkway, residents of the eastern portion of the Estates have no access to Interstate 75. Also, the lack of an interchange at Everglades Boulevard forces additional traffic onto already congested portions of Interstate 75, affecting not only local but inter-regional traffic on the Interstate. The lack of access to the Estates also creates safety problems, particularly in the event that its residents must be evacuated during hurricane or wildfire season. As Collier County's population expands from the nearly 330,000 residents today to a projected 1,066,000 at buildout, this situation will worsen. The current IJR and PD&E Study will evaluate the amount of traffic that would use a new interchange at Everglades Boulevard and the impact that it will have on adjacent interchanges and the Interstate's mainline operations. In order to ensure that there will be minimal to no environmental impacts associated with this project particular attention will be paid to the need for wildlife crossings or other such mitigation measures. An interchange at Everglades Boulevard and I-75 is an identified need in the MPO's Cost Feasible and Needs Plan and is the highest priority with the residents of Golden Gate Estates. Funds will be used for the next appropriate phase which may include design, right of way, mitigation of construction, depending on the availability of potential state and local funds that may expedite the project. The project will provide better access for an area that covers more than 100 square miles while improving interchange operations at three (3) existing overburdened interchanges. Additionally, the interchange would provide critical access to a route for safe evacuations from storms and fires as significant growth continues in eastern Collier County.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: New Starts/ Fixed Guideway

Name of Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL

Description of Request: I have secured $4,000,000 for the Metrorail Orange Line Expansion. This funding will be used for the construction of a 9.2-mile Metrorail extension along NW 27th Avenue between the existing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Metrorail station and the Broward County line. The Department is also undertaking the implementation of the alternative analysis for Phase 3 of the Miami-Dade County East-West Corridor Rapid Transit Project. This 10-13-mile Metrorail project will extend from the Miami Intermodal Center to Florida International University and points west. This expansion will allow for more options for commuting and travel around Miami-Dade County. Additionally, this will take vehicles off the road in the County, allowing for increased public transit, which is more environmentally-friendly. The target population includes those who live along the areas of the expansion both NW 27th Avenue, as well as from the Miami Intermodal Center to Florida International University, who could utilize the expanded Metrorail service for commuting/traveling throughout Miami-Dade County. The North Corridor provides transportation access to the City of Opa-locka and the City of Miami Gardens. Additionally, the corridor will provide access to Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial University and St. Thomas University as well as major employment and activity centers including Dolphin Stadium and Calder Race Course. The East-West Corridor will provide transit access to the City of Miami, the City of Sweetwater and the City of Doral. Additionally, the corridor will provide access to Florida International University as well as major employment and activity centers including Miami International Airport, Dolphin Mall, Miami International Mall, Mall of the Americas and Waterford at Blue Lagoon Corporate Park.

Description of Request: I have secured $1,750,000 for the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) Safety Improvements. This funding will be used to create east and west turn lanes on Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) into the Miccosukee Tribe's Headquarter at Mile Marker 68 and 70. The funds will be used for the clearing & grubbing, excavation, embankment, asphalt, guardrails and traffic stripes needed to create the turn lanes and widen the Tamiami Trail entrance. This project would address significant safety concerns associated with turning into the Miccosukee Tribe Headquarters from Tamiami Trail, U.S. 41, on the Miccosukee Reservation. These entrances lead to housing for all Tribal members as well as the School, Clinic, Court and all other government offices. Currently, the entrance is a two-lane highway where speed limits are reduced upon approach from 55 M.P.H. to 45 M.P.H., but pose serious risks to Tribal members and tourists who visit attractions. Many accidents have been reported at this section of Tamiami Trail because of the deceleration needed to safely turn into the Headquarters, resulting in severe injuries and damage. The creation of the turn lanes from the east and west will significantly reduce the current danger of serious accidents.

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